Cajon Pass fire 60% contained, I-15 open

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Firefighters work in Oak Hill to contain the flames of a fast-moving wildfire that erupted Friday on the main interstate between Southern California and Las Vegas. The fire forced evacuations of 1,500 homes, temporarily closed the freeway to holiday weekend traffic and surged through hundreds of acres of desert brush.

A firefighter works Friday in Oak Hill TO contain the flames of a fast-moving wildfire that erupted on the main interstate between Southern California and Las Vegas. The fire was 30 percent contained Saturday morning.

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A fire fighting aircraft drops fire retardant over a neighborhood near Hesperia on Friday. A fast-moving wildfire erupted Friday on the main interstate between Southern California and Las Vegas, forcing evacuations of 1,500 homes, temporarily closing the freeway to holiday weekend traffic and surging through hundreds of acres of desert brush.

Traffic along the northbound Interstate 15 was a parking lot Friday through the Cajon Pass after a 500 acre fire threatened a community near Hesperia. The fast-moving wildfire erupted on the main interstate between Southern California and Las Vegas, closing the freeway as the holiday weekend was just getting started.

San Bernardino County Fire Capt. John McGarvey prepares a hose to battle a blaze in Oak Hills after a fast-moving wildfire erupted Friday on the main interstate between Southern California and Las Vegas.

A fire helicopter drops fire retardent in Oak Hills after a fast-moving wildfire erupted Friday on the main interstate between Southern California and Las Vegas, forcing evacuations of 1,500 homes.

A blaze that has scorched more than 1,100 acres of the high desert and temporarily closed a main artery to Las Vegas was 60 percent contained Saturday evening, with fire officials optimistic the interstate would remain permanently open.

The Hill fire has moved past the I-15 at the Cajon Pass, and traffic is largely unaffected by the blaze, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Robin Prince said.

“There still could be a closure of the 15, though that’s probably not going to be the case because it’s already been burned over there,” Prince said. “It’s looking pretty good.”

The fire broke out about 12:45 p.m. Friday at the I-15 just south of Oak Hill Road in San Bernardino County. It quickly grew, moving north through chaparral and grass, fire officials said. The cause remains under investigation.

About 750 firefighters from numerous agencies were fighting the fire Friday night; by Saturday morning, that number grew to 953, Prince said.

At least one home was heavily damaged, while two mobile homes were destroyed, authorities said.

Both directions of the I-15 were temporarily closed Friday afternoon, snarling traffic as motorists headed out for the holiday weekend.

Several northbound lanes were re-opened during the late afternoon. Southbound lanes were initially expected to remain closed overnight, but instead several were re-opened about 7 p.m.

Traffic remained moderately heavy Saturday morning, but officials said it was a result of the holiday weekend traffic, not the fire.

Motorists are no longer being urged to find alternate routes, officials said Saturday.

A mandatory evacuation of homes west of Oak Hills Road, east of Baldy Mesa and south of Mesquite in San Bernardino County was lifted at 2 p.m. Saturday. Only residents with proof of address were allowed into the formerly evacuated areas.